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St Thomas

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

By Sermons

Acts 2:42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10 Year A, Easter 4 May 3, 2020 St. Thomas the Apostle The Rev’d Virginia Holleman In the Name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN. My Father was born and grew up in Branford, Connecticut, a small town on the Long Island Sound about an hour-and-a-half from New York City. Daddy thought Connecticut was the prettiest place in the world and, once he retired from the Air Force in 1962 and moved back to Branford, he swore he’d never leave the beautiful home he and my Mother had until he left – as he put it – “Feet first in a pine box!” But when my Mother died in 2005 and Dad realized the four most important things in the world to him were in Dallas – that would be my sisters and me – he moved here several months…

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May 3, 2020

The Gift of Listening

By Christian Formation

People have reached out to talk more this week than usual. Many of the conversations I have had have concluded with some version of, “I didn’t expect you to solve anything, I just needed someone to listen. Thank you for being there.” I am always honored when someone trusts me enough to be vulnerable and share the challenges they are facing. People are reaching out more because this sheltering at home is getting arduous. The novelty has long worn off, and the emotional, relational, and economic stresses are mounting. Part of what makes what we are all experiencing so difficult is there isn’t anything any of us can do to fix it. This is when listening becomes even more critical. There are times when the goal of listening to someone talk about a challenge is so we can offer a possible solution. For example, if someone is struggling with how…

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May 1, 2020

I am a “do-er”

By Rector's Corner

“…Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads…” – Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, BCP, p. 225 There is absolutely no doubt that I am a “do-er.” If it comes down to choosing between “doing,” and “being,” my choice is ALWAYS going to be to “do” something. I AM a “do-er.” It’s why I was a productive church administrator. Administrators get to “do” something, administrate! The choice to “be” is a much more difficult, somewhat unnerving space to occupy, because I always, invariably feel like I should be “doing” something! Sheep, oddly enough, for all the claims of their ignorance, appear to know how to “be.” Seems like they stand around and eat a lot, and just “be.” And they’re ok with that. It’s interesting to consider Good Shepherd Sunday, particularly with regards to…

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April 30, 2020

Welcome our Theologians-in-Residence!

By News

We are blessed at St. Thomas the Apostle to have so many gifted and talented folk who think theologically! It is of particular benefit to welcome “academia,” those who study, and think, and educate others regarding theology, to be resident among us. In concert with our Bishop and Vestry, I have asked two of our fellow Doubters if they would serve as our “Theologians-in-Residence,” the Reverend Dr. Stephen V. Sprinkle and Dr. Mark D. Jordan. Dr. Steve Sprinkle (steve@thedoubter.org) Dr. Sprinkle (Steve) is the Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry at Brite Divinity School on the campus of Texas Christian University. Steve holds degrees from Barton College (B.A.), Yale University Divinity School (M.Div.), and Duke University Graduate School (Ph.D., Systematic Theology). (He did his Ph.D. dissertation under the guidance of theologian Stanley Hauerwas!) Steve is ordained as a minister in the Alliance of Baptists….

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April 30, 2020

Regathering Committee

By News

With the easing of restrictions, and the expiration of stay-at-home orders by Texas governor Greg Abbott, many are beginning to ask questions about how and when churches, and specifically St. Thomas the Apostle, will begin to reoccupy our property at Inwood and Mockingbird. I want to be clear about several things. First of all, the safety and health of my parishioners and employees is of primary importance. Nothing will be done that in any way compromises the health or welfare of our greatest asset, the body of Christ, our people. Second, we will be guided in our regathering process by the ordinances of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, which we are a fully integrated member. Bishop Sumner has thus far said that no repopulation of properties will occur any earlier than May 10 (the county’s stay-at-home order), and he may extend that date further out, depending on the prevailing science…

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April 30, 2020

Sermon for Third Sunday of Easter

By Rector's Corner, Sermons

Christopher Thomas Sermon for Third Sunday of Easter, Year A – 4/26/20 Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17 1 Peter 1:17-23 Luke 24:13-35 One of the most fascinating and engaging classes I had the opportunity to take during my three years in seminary was a course taught by Dr. Benjamin D. Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages at Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. The course was titled “Prophecy in the Second Temple Period,” and while I didn’t know much about the Second Temple Period, or Judaism for that matter, I was tantalized by something that would eventually resonate deep down into my very core, something that drew me in, beckoning me into and onto this journey toward the intersection of prophesy and exile. In retrospect, it probably was a very significant part of my priestly calling. Now, I’ve always perceived myself something of a prophet, but that…

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April 26, 2020

Doubters Happy Hour – Tuesday, April 28

By Upcoming Events

“So, you think you want to be a priest?!?” Join us for our Doubters Happy Hour next Tuesday, April 28 at 6 pm. Come spend an hour learning more about our Seminarian-in-Residence Allen M. Junek as we share our weekly Happy Hour time together. If you’ve ever had any questions about what “call” sounds like, or feels like, or what the journey looks like, this is a great time to ask questions! We know Doubters like to get REAL! No question is off limits! (Well, within reason…) So come, bring your favorite libation and snack, and learn more about what it means to get that special “call” from God!

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April 24, 2020

Welcome our Seminarian-in-Residence Allen M. Junek

By News

It is with great excitement that I announce Allen Junek will be formally joining our ranks as a Doubter as he enters the beginning stages of his journey of discernment toward possible Holy Orders. Allen is finishing his first year of study as a Master of Divinity student at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. He procured his double-major undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M University in College Station. Many of you have already become acquainted with Allen due in no small part to the ministry he has already provided in helping St. Thomas step into the virtual world of “televised” ministry. Allen will undertake his supervised ministry year with the Doubters of St. Thomas, and he will have responsibilities under my leadership of developing and fostering a 20/30-something ministry, as well as leading our social media presence, preaching, and several other specific projects. It is exciting…

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April 24, 2020

There is no going back

By Rector's Corner

My Dear People of St. Thomas, From our places of isolation, in the COVID-19 world, it’s hard to believe it is already April 23rd. We have not worshiped together in the physical building since the Second Wednesday in Lent, March 11th. In ways of pure ingenuity, we have banded together in spite of a virus! We waved palm branches, and built and stripped altars, and washed hands, and sat at empty tombs, and witnessed the Risen Christ in ways we never imagined possible. And yet. And yet. And yet. We are still left at that same “so what” place (always my big theological moment). What do we do with all this “Good News” that we’ve witnessed, year after year, even in new ways, that we continue to find? Because, after all, in the aftermath of resurrection, we’re still walking that same 7-mile stretch to Emmaus, wondering “What’s just happened,” and…

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April 24, 2020

Flattening the J Curve

By Christian Formation

“We may not ever understand why we suffer or be able to control the forces that cause our suffering, but we can have a lot to say about what the suffering does to us, and what sort of people we become because of it.” — Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to Good People There is wisdom in the J curve, for it helps us to understand what we experience during times of significant change and disruption. Note from the diagram that the vertical axis of the J curve is “Stability,” while the horizontal access is “Resilience/Growth.” When change occurs in our lives, the graphic shows that stability begins to decline. When change is significant—a move, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, or as now, experiencing a pandemic, the decline in stability can be steep. One natural reaction to a sudden experience of…

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April 23, 2020